Sports Reporter :A splendid century by Mushfiqur Rahim and a five-wicket haul by ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan powered Bangladesh to post a massive 145-run win over Zimbabwe in their first ODI match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.Mushfiqur Rahim hit a marvellous 107 from 109 balls featuring nine fours and a sixer. It was Mushfiqur’s fourth ODI century. He reached the 100-run landmark using 104 deliveries with eight fours and a six. Mushfiqur Rahim was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding batting performance.Shakib Al Hasan bowled extremely well and finished his spell as 10-0-47-5.Sent into bat first, Bangladesh piled up a healthy total of 273 for the loss of nine wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then bundled out Zimbabwe for 128 off 36.1 overs.Bangladesh had a meagre start as the hosts lost their early two wickets for 30 runs only. Later, opener Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim salvaged their team from early debacle contributing together 70 runs for the third wicket stand before Tamim Iqbal was caught at the long-on by Luke Jongwe off Sikandar Raza when Bangladesh’s score was 100 for the loss of three wickets.After dismissal of Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan came at the crease, but his innings was short-lived as he (16) was stumped out by wicketkeeper Richmond Matumbami off Sikandar Raza when the hosts’ total was 123 for the loss of four wickets.After departure of Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir Rahman repaired the damage adding together 119 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Sabbir Rahman was run out by a direct throw of Graeme Cremer when the team’s score was 242 for the loss of five wickets.Sabbir Rahman notched up a fine 57. His 58-ball innings was ornamented with four fours and two sixes. Sabbir Rahman reached his second ODI 50-run landmark playing 53 deliveries. Opener Tamim Iqbal was the other batsman who got success with the willow. He made 40 from 68 balls with three fours and two sixes.After removal of Sabbir Rahman, Bangladesh batsmen failed to build any notable partnership. Nasir Hossain arrived at the crease but he failed to shine with the willow. He was caught at the deep square leg by Chamu Chibhabha off Taurai Muzarabani when the home sides’ total was 243 for the loss of six wickets. Nasir Hossain was the second Bangladesh batsman who was dismissed for a duck. Earlier, opener Liton Kumar Das returned to the pavilion scoring naught.After dismissal of Nasir Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim could stay at the crease for a short time as he was run out by a direct throw of Graeme Cremer when Bangladesh’s score was 243 for the loss of seven wickets.Then Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (14) was caught at the long-on by Luke Jongwe off Taurai Muzarabani when the hosts’ total was 264 for the loss of eight wickets.After departure of Mashrafe, Arafat Sunny (15) was run out from a throw by Malcolm Waller when Bangladesh’s score was 273 for the loss of nine wickets.Sikandar Raza and Taurai Muzarabani got two wickets each conceding 47 and 64 runs respectively.Besides, Tinashe Panyangara and Luke Jongwe took one wicket each for 38 and 45 runs respectively.Zimbabwe made a modest start with Chamu Chibhabha and Luke Jongwe, the two Zimbabwean openers adding 40 runs before Chamu Chibhabha (9) was caught at the long-off by Liton Kumar Das off Shakib Al Hasan.Shakib Al Hasan struck again as Craig Ervine (2) was caught at the mid-off by Nasir Hossain off Shakib Al Hasan when the tourists’ total was 48 for the loss of two wickets.After dismissal of Ervine, Luke Jongwe was stumped out by Mushfiqur Rahim off Al-Amin Hossain when the visitors’ score was 54 for the loss of three wickets.Then Shakib Al Hasan dismissed Sean Williams for just eight runs when the African’s total was 65 for the loss of four wickets.Country’s best pacer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza got his day’s first wicket when Sikandar Raza (3) was stumped out by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim off Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when Zimbabwe’s score was 79 for the loss of five wickets.Mashrafe struck again as Malcolm Waller (1) was caught at the backward point by Nasir Hossain off Bin Mortaza when the tourists’ total was 83 for the loss of six wickets.Shakib Al Hasan dismissed Graeme Cremer for 15 when Zimbabwe’s score was 120 for the loss of seven wickets.Shakib Al Hasan fulfilled his five-wicket haul when Tinashe Panyangara (5) was bowled out by left-arm spinner when the visitors’ total 128 for the loss of eight wickets.Elton Chigumbura fought back making 41 before he was trapped leg before wicket by Nasir Hossain when Zimbabwe’s innings came to an end. Chigumbura hit two sixes in his 51-ball knock.Luke Jongwe was the other run-getter of Zimbabwe. He scored 39 from 51 balls with four fours and a six.Number-10 batsman Richmond Mutumbami could not bat as he was injured while he was fielding.Mashrafe Bin Mortaza bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 13 runs while Nasir Hossain and Al-Amin Hossain took one wicket each for six and 15 runs respectively.Tomorrow Bangladesh will face Zimbabwe in the second ODI at the same venue. The day/night affair will begin at 1.00 pm.
